These Wachners were certainly nice, simple people.
"Oh, the Villa du Lac is a very respectable 'ouse," said Madame Wachner cautiously.

"It is full of respectable--what do you call them ?--dowagers.
Oh, you need have no fear for your friend, sir; she is quite safe there.
And you know she does not often go to the Casino"-- she told the lie with bold deliberation.

Some instinct told her that while Chester was at Lacville Sylvia would not go to the Casino as often as she had been in the habit of doing.
There was a pause--and then again Madame Wachner asked the Englishman a question: "Perhaps you will go on to Switzerland, leaving Mrs.Bailey here, and then come back for her ?" "Perhaps I shall," he said heavily, without really thinking of what he was saying.
They were now walking along broad, shady roads which reminded him of those in a well-kept London suburb.

Not a sound issued from any of the houses which stood in gardens on either side, and in the moonlight he saw that they were all closely shuttered.

It might almost have been a little township of empty houses.
Again the thought crossed his mind what a dangerous place these lonely roads might be to a man carrying a lot of gold and notes on his person.
They had not met a single policeman, or, indeed, anyone, after they had left the side of the lake.
At last Madame Wachner stopped short before a large wooden door.
'"Ere we are!" she said briskly.